September 22, 2012

National White Chocolate Day

"White Chocolate. Intense, sweet. But not deep. Okay for prom dates or flings, but not to get serious. Milk chocolates are guys you could date for like a few months, and dark chocolates are for love." ― E. Lockhart

It's National White Chocolate Day!

White chocolate has always freaked me out, especially when it's in the shape of Easter bunnies. I don't know what it is, but that glossy sheen, and ivory "old glue" color never seemed appetizing to me. It all just seemed... fake. My family has always been filled with people who loved white chocolate, though. So year in and year out, I indulged their wishes to chomp off a set of white chocolate bunny ears from the hollowed-out Sunny or Honey, or whatever cutesie name given to those creepy candies, on Easter Day (this was obviously long before I could rationalize the complete absurdity of glorifying a giant hopping rabbit that creep into your house late at night to leave you florescent colored, plastic eggs filled with gifts and chocolates. I mean really... what is that?!).

It was in my college baking course that I came to learn that white chocolate isn't even chocolate. It's a chocolate derivative (made from sugar, milk, and cocoa butter), and it contains no actual cocoa solids. According to the FDA, there are even regulations that govern what can actually be marketed as white chocolate. As of 2004 in Amur-KAH, white chocolate must be (by weight) at least 20% cocoa butter, 14% total milk solids, and 3.5% milk fat, and no more than 55% sugar or other sweeteners.

And now you're all the wiser, foodies.

I'm not celebrating today with any rabbits. Well, my own, but he's less interested in white chocolate and more interested in the plethora of crunchy fallen autumn leaves (a favorite snack of his during this time of the year). Thankfully, my local whole grocers made white chocolate, macadamia nut, and toffee cookies today (actually, I think they make them all the time, I've just never noticed until now. And why would I when there are real chocolate cookies to be had?) which seems far more appealing to me than taking a bite of some fake chocolate on a fake rabbit.

Happy National White Chocolate Day!

Search this blog:

Hey, I'm Steff! I created Almanac of Eats as a celebration of all things edible. This foodie's reference guide is peppered with tasty tidbits and interesting info from official state foods (Eat the State) to national food holidays (Eat the Year), while previously documenting my own delicious journey as well (Eat the Dinner)!